Suspected arson guts Aldergrove Mark’s store

The Aldergrove Mark’s clothing store is roped off as police and fire officials conduct an investigation into a fire that gutted the store overnight.

Store owner Adam Bekar told The Aldergrove Star on Wednesday that he was told there was a break and entry and arson committed at the store sometime overnight.

The store is located at the Aldergrove Village Mall, on the corner of Fraser Highway and Hwy. 13 (264th Street). Mark’s is Aldergrove’s largest clothing retailer and is a long established and popular clothing retailer in the community.

Yellow tape surrounds the store and parking lot as investigators conduct their work.

There is a pile of charred clothing heaped at the back door, and all the open doors and windows show visible signs of charring or black smudge. There is a pile of broken glass in front of one of the front doors.

Langley Township Fire Department assistant fire chief Bruce Ferguson told The Star that they were informed of the fire by the alarm company at 6:40 a.m., Nov. 29, as well as by a caller who reported seeing smoke coming from the store.

Ferguson said that the fire “is considered suspicious as there was no sign of forced entry.”

Ferguson said they were able to contain the fire to the storage room, however, heavy smoke charged through the building, with smoke damaging goods in the store, as well as causing smoke damage to the neighbouring Great Clips hair salon and Oxygen Yoga gym. Both of those stores also remain closed until restoration work is completed.

Ferguson said fire fighters broke the front doors of Mark’s and a neighbouring store to ventilate the building.